molybdenog

Molybdenog is a fictional mineral term used in science fiction and worldbuilding to describe a molybdenum-rich oxide mineral with a variable composition. The name combines the element molybdenum with a speculative suffix, signaling that it is a constructed concept rather than a recognized mineral species. In most depictions, molybdenog is imagined to form in high-temperature metamorphic or magmatic settings and to occur in dense, metal-like masses.

Composition and structure: The hypothetical chemical formula is variable, often written as Mo_xO_y, with molybdenum in mixed oxidation states (typically Mo(VI) and Mo(IV)).

Properties: Physical properties include a metallic to sub-metallic luster, a color range from gray to bronze, and a high density. Mohs hardness is described variably, commonly around 5 to 6. The mineral is usually modeled as anisotropic, with a monoclinic or tetragonal crystal system in many worldbuilding catalogs.

Occurrence and mining: In fiction, molybdenog is rare in Earth's crust and more common on fictional planets with ultramafic or mantle-like geology. Mining is portrayed as challenging due to its brittleness and high energy requirements; refining yields ingots or feedstock for advanced technologies.

Uses and significance: Within stories, molybdenog serves as a high-density material for energy storage, propulsion components, or durable armor. Its scarcity and instability can drive economic and geopolitical plotlines.

See also: Molybdenum, Hypothetical minerals.